Chip Kelly to oversee Eagles' player personnel department
The Philadelphia Eaglesannounced changes to their front office structure on Friday, including making head coach Chip Kelly the overseer of the player personnel department.
General manager Howie Roseman has been promoted to the role of Executive Vice President of Football Operations. He will "continue directing contract negotiations, salary cap management, and NFL strategic matters, while overseeing the team’s medical staff, equipment staff and more."
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Kelly has had control over Philadelphia's roster, which reportedly led to some friction in the Eagles' front office. On Wednesday, the team announced it has parted ways with vice president of player personnel Tom Gamble, Kelly's "hand picked front-office ally," according to NJ.com. Gamble reported directly to Roseman.
Kelly will lead efforts to hire a new personnel executive, a process that will begin immediately.
Roseman has been with the Eagles organization for 16 years and has been the team's GM since 2010.
"We are a good football team and we believe these steps will help make us a great team," said team president Jeffrey Lurie. "That step - from good to great - is the most difficult one for any organization to make. To do that, sometimes you have to step back and really look hard at where you are today and what you want to become."
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Kelly was hired as Eagles coach in 2013. The Eagles have gone 10-6 in each of Kelly's two seasons, making the playoffs in 2013 but falling short this year. Philadelphia brought a 9-3 record into Week 14 in 2014, but subsequently lost three straight to fall out of the playoff picture.
"I am very confident about where we are headed as a team and as an organization. I look forward to continue working with Jeffrey and Howie as well as the personnel department," said Kelly.
"This is not a one-man operation. It will truly take a team effort to acquire and develop the best football players and then put the best team on the field each week. It will take all of us working together."
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